Trust Natural Resources Management

What this funds

also accelerates growth rates of remaining trees, increases future volume yield, and improves species composition. Post-harvest tree planting is a critical management activity. Adequate stocking levels at the time of planting ensures a healthy future forest resource capable of providing wood fiber, important habitats, clean water supply, and recreational opportunities. Frequently, tree planting strategies include planting a mix of tree species to broaden potential future market opportunities and help ensure a healthy Forest Management, Inventory and Planning - Funding supports geospatial analysis, measurement of trees and other forest vegetation, determination of tree growth, and documentation of long-term trends. BIA and Tribes currently use continuous forest inventories and stand exams to develop forest-wide estimates of regeneration, growth, mortality, and forest health. The inventory data is used to calculate the allowable annual cut (annual sustained yield harvest), and to develop environmental compliance documents, forest management plans, and forest histories. Generally, inventory data is collected across forest lands held in trust status for Tribes and provides the foundation for management decisions on those lands. The program also has integrated the use of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) which helps BIA and Tribal foresters attain highly accurate landscape level data across ownership boundaries in a more cost-effective manner, and in a shorter time frame. This information can be used to assess forest health, areas at risk of wildfire, identify areas where restoration projects would be beneficial, and promote collaborative efforts with other Federal land managers. Woodland Management - The activities funded are forested areas where traditional logging operations are considered uneconomical. However, these areas, such as the pinyon-juniper woodlands of the Southwest, have important fuelwood, cultural, spiritual, and traditional characteristics important to Tribes. Woodland acres may also include valuable niche market products including beams, vigas, latillas, transplants, and species conducive to the manufacture of specialty woodworking lumber. Indian woodlands encompass over 10 million acres. Treatments in Tribal woodlands include density and stand composition treatments that improve resilience, water yield and water quality, control of invasive species, and preserve important plants and animals. Over the past decades, many woodlands areas have degraded and restoration efforts are increasingly important to ensure that woodland resources are protected and preserved for the future Timber Harvest Initiative - Funds are used to improve the implementation of forest land management activities and promote the harvest of forest products on reservations where BIA and Tribal forestry staff are unable to meet their allowable annual cut. Factors that contribute to declining harvests include , lack of training, shifting forest products markets, and loss of local infrastructure. BIA Forestry established a Timber Team in FY 2020 to help BIA and Tribal forestry staff meet their allowable annual cut and develop training and recruitment opportunities for BIA and Tribal foresters. The Timber Team travels to field units to provide assistance and expertise in preparing and managing timber sales and other forest management activities. This funding provides additional resources to BIA Agencies or Tribes to prepare and offer timber sales, and administer timber sales.

Extracted from Bureau of Indian Affairs, p. 33. Verbatim; nothing here is paraphrased.

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